Portsea Island
Portsea Island, Portsmouthcounty:
Hampshire
otherwise: portesig, 982-14; Porteseia, 1218
PORTSEA ISLAND
Hypothetical Old English 'Portesieg'='island at the port (Port)', or elliptically for 'Portsmouth island'. A name of this form is now also applied to the part of dockland from which the Ryde and Gosport ferries depart.
Period - 19th century, early
an island between Chichester bay and the harbour of Portsmouth, in Hampshire. It is a low tract about 14m in circuit, separated from the mainland on the N by a creek, over which there are two bridges, one for the entrance and the other for the departure of passengers. At the SW extremity is the town of Portsmouth.
Porchester ... between Fareham and Portsea island.
Shown on an old map by Harrison 1788
- island - Portsdown Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1780s
The place is described in text Cox 1738
- salterns - Hampshire
Portsey ... which is fourteen Miles round.
At high Tide this Isle is encompassed with Sea-Water, of which they make Salt, and is joined to the Continent by a Bridge, which had of old a small Castle to defend it. Athelfled, Wife of King Edgar, gave it to the Abbey of Winchester, and here, at the Entrance of the Creek, our Ancestors built a Town, from thence called Portsmouth ...
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- island - Hampshire
Period - 17th century
... Isle of Portsey, so made by the Sea, and its two arms, which on the North part are conjoyned by a River, over which is a Bridge, which giveth entrance to the said Island
island
The place is described in text Camden 1610
- Hantshire
Period - 1600s
... the Island Portsey adjoining [Portchester], which taketh in circuit much about foureteene miles, beeing at every full sea floated round about with salt waters, out of which they boile salt, and by a bridge that hath a fortresse adjoining unto it, is united to the Continent.
otherwise: Isle of Portesmuthe
The place is described in text Leland 1535-43
The town of Portesmuth standith in a corner of an Isle bering the name of Portesmuth.
This isle is in lenght a vj. miles and 3. myles in bredth.
This isle berith good corn and grasse.
The ground is made an isle by this meene: There brekith out an arme of the mayn haven about a 3. miles above Portesmuth, and goith up a 2. miles or more by marisch grounde to a place caullid Portebridge 2. miles from Portesmuth. Then brekith there out a nother creke out of the mayn se or Avant Haven and goith up also to Portebridg, and there is the ground insulatid.
The ground within the Isle of Portesmuth is partely enclosid, frutefull of corn and hath sum wood.
From Portesmuth toun to Portesbridge of 2. arches of stone ij. miles.
This bridge is the limes of the isle.
And heere I markid one arme of salte water ebbing and flowing that cummith owt of Portesmuth Haven up by marsch ground onto Portebridge. And an other creke t[hens] from the mayne se to the same bridge. And these 2. crekes meting at the bridge make the Isle of Portesmuthe.
Period - 17th century, early
Period - 14th century (about 1360)
Drawn off the coast by Havant, not labelled.
